Tagged: MLB

With only 14 games left to the 2011 baseball season, the Boston Red Sox have to hold onto their slight lead for the Wild Card spot with a death grip. I sat in my seat at Fenway Park, facing the American League East Standings for the entire game.....the Yanks have won 90 games so far, and well, we have not. David Ortiz had a back brace on Wednesday, and it was announced that he is one of the nominees for the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award, given at the World Series by Chevrolet and the MLB. Ortiz also made an apprearance on the Good Morning America show (ABCtv) today. Slugger Kevin Youkilis has a sports hernia, among other health issues and Adrian Gonzalez was taken out of Wednesday's game for a health issue also. Josh Beckett is scheduled to start on Friday night's game against the Ray's "Big Game" Shields, so he needs to pitch, well.....like JOSH BECKETT. The Sox are still missing JD Drew and Clay Buchholz, in addition to some bullpen pitching (Bobby Jenks) and oh yes........Daisuke Matsuzaka. Health and injuries were the team's downfall in 2010, we can only hope that it will not be so for the tail end of the 2011. The postseason is in reach, so take out your lucky charms & cross those fingers Red Sox Nation. The 2012 regular season baseball schedule has been released, and I will highlight a few noteable games:

Spring Training down in lovely Fort Myers Florida is well under way now, and the boys are toned and trained and anxious to get out and play ball on a daily basis….but that doesn’t really happen at Spring Training. This time of the year is a sharing time, the minor leaguers and invitees also need play time, and our headliners need to ease their way back to daily play. Early March game attendees are more likely to see the veterans start, play 2-3 innings, then have the youngers guys take over the game. As the month progresses, the big money guys take their place more frequently, and for more innings.

Dustin Pedroia’s Newest Sullivan Tire Commercial is due out soon, Jacoby is being courted by Nike (and many other corporations) because of his awesome-ness, a new line of wines is going to make it’s debut this spring featuring our Ace Josh Beckett and our jack rabbit Jacoby Ellsbury. (I will feature an entire blog on it soon)

I have officially requested a webcam for City Of Palms Park, and it’s being considered, although may not be operating until 2011, or when the new ballpark opens in Spring 2012. Since the spring games down there are rarely televised, I thought it would help to bring the fans closer to the game/team.

Clay Buchholz and his wife Lindsey are expecting their first child this summer, and our newest arm John Lackey is making a very good impression on the staff down in Florida. It’s a contract year for our Josh Beckett, and there is a lot of faith in the chatter that predicts a deal gets done soon. The eyes of the fans are on our three tag teams on the field for 2010: shortstops Marco Scutaro and Jed Lowrie, third basemen Adrian Beltre and Mike Lowell, and catchers Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek are all transitions to watch.

Ex-Sox Jason Bay played against us for the first time on March 11 in Port St.Lucie Florida, oddly getting booed in the Mets stadium.

Ex-Sox Nomar Garciaparra signed a 1-Day Deal with his Red Sox before transitioning into retirement from Major League play, and into baseball media play.

Both ESPN’s Baseball Tonight & MLB’s 30 Teams In 30 Days have recently filmed at the Red Sox facility and moved-on.

As Opening Day approaches, one must realize that this year’s festivities will surely be a circus for everone in the baseball world to view. This year on April 4th (originally scheduled for April 5th) usually held on a Monday afternoon-will be instead on EASTER SUNDAY NIGHT 8pm because ESPN wants bigger ratings for the rivalry, as we have to watch a national NY-loving broadcast introduce the current World Champion team…..well, we can kick their ***** on the field that night and have the last word, and that would be sufficient to start-off the year!

(please excuse my language, but we are talking Sox-Yankees here)

At this moment, there are only 563 more hours until my beloved Red Sox begin the battle for the ring in 2010.